Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), on Tuesday congratulated the city of Qingdao for its years of effort and organization in hosting the Olympic Sailing Regatta.
"What you have achieved is outstanding," Rogge said.
The IOC president watched two medal races at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center and then attended awards ceremonies.
Rogge said everyone in Qingdao smiles and works hard, and is ready to help others, making athletes comfortable and happy.
After the ceremony, Rogge visited the Olympic Village and Qingdao's Folk Customs Culture Display.
Rogge said it is one of the best Olympic Villages he has seen and matches the quality of the venue and other facilities.
He also wished athletes good results in the remaining races.
A former Olympic sailor, Rogge said he felt very much at home in the sailing center.
He led the IOC delegation to Qingdao on October 16, 2005 for the first official inspection in the city.
Born on May 2, 1942, in Ghent, Belgium, Rogge competed in yachting races at the Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968, Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976. He also played on the Belgian national rugby team, making him something of a legend in his home nation.
After his sports career, Rogge studied at the University of Ghent and became a professional orthopedic surgeon after receiving his doctorate in medicine.
Rogge's passion for sports brought him back to an athletics-related position. He became an IOC member in 1991 and joined its executive board in 1998. He was elected as the eighth president of the IOC on July 16, 2001, succeeding Juan Antonio Samaranch.
Under his watch, the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics and the 2006 Turin Winter Games were held. Now the massive Beijing 2008 Games is approaching completion.
He noted that there have been many achievements by the IOC, but further efforts are needed to prevent doping and excessive commercialization.
Philippe Rogge, son of the IOC chairman, served as the head of Belgian team during Beijing Games. Not surprisingly, Philippe said he greatly admires his father.
"He is an amiable father, working free for the IOC though his life and the work are tough," he said.
(China Daily August 21, 2008)